Despite the recent interest in adopting HTML5's video tag, there is still one major problem: there is no mandated standard video codec for the video tag. The two main contestants are the proprietary and patended h264, and the open and free Theora. In a comment on an LWN.net article about this problematic situation, LWN reader Trelane posted an email exchange he had with MPEG-LA, which should further cement Theora as the obvious choice.

Most users just want to be able to see the video without having to pay for it. Google (and YouTube) know that, so they will give the end user a choice. That might change to h264 or theora, but it could just as easily stay the same with flash.

If MPEG-LA asks too much money there will appear other options that might take over. Never forget users can leave youtube for something else when that works better for them. You never know what the future will be.

I'm just a user that wants to view the video I like without having to pay for it.